CRICKET - Parlane, Williamson drop two tons on Wellington

Centuries by Michael Parlane and Kane Williamson gave Northern Districts' bowlers a chance at an overall win on the final day of their State Championship match at Cobham Oval yesterday.
Northern took first-innings points by scoring a good total of 546 runs in their first innings, with several batsmen chipping in with scores but the highlights were centuries to the No3 and No4.
New boy Williamson's knock of 100, in 174 balls, including 11 fours and one six, continued his red hot form with the bat, after he posted scores of 111 and 95 in the side's previous first-class game against Auckland. Add his scores to the 32 overs of offspin he bowled in the first spell and you have a very handy cricketer.
While Williamson's century was warmly applauded it was "Bear" Parlane's that caused the locals to turn out.
Parlane was offered a lifeline by ND this year after Wellington had looked unlikely to renew the veteran's contract, and the century against his old teammates - including brother Neal - was a big moment and one that won't harm his chances of extending his career for another season.
"There will definitely be a next year for me," he promised.
Parlane notched his century by hitting a six off Luke Woodcock, before hitting a single two balls later to cover. He batted for four hours and 51 minutes and faced 231 balls, with five fours and three sixes.
"I've had a pretty good run of it in the last 15 or 16 years but I don't want to see it end, so I'm hoping to stick around a bit longer," he said.
It was his first 100 of the first-class season but his second at Cobham Oval after he scored one in the State Championship against Central Districts in January.
The century took his first-class tally to 15.
"I've got seven for ND, seven for Wellington and one for the New Zealand Cricket Academy against Bangladesh, a very, very long time ago," he said.
Parlane plans to get into better shape next season to help extend his career.
"I want to keep on playing cricket for as long as I can and now that age is working against me a little, the time has come to take care of myself a lot better than I have been."
Expect to see a leaner, meaner cricketer next season as he heads to Christchurch for the winter to spend time on the farm owned by partner Tracey Dulieu's parents. They met in Wellington about two years ago.
"She's pretty keen for me to keep playing as well so we're planning to work pretty hard on me and us over the winter," Parlane said.
Although a draw seemed likely today, Parlane believed ND's spinners might be able to do the job.
Wellington were 53 without loss at stumps.